Skade

Skade was a Danish pagan seer who was the lover of Earl Harald Bloodhair and of Uhtred of Bebbanburg.

Biography
Skade was a seer (called a "witch" by the Anglo-Saxons") employed by Earl Harald Bloodhair, and she would have visions and have Bloodhair drink her blood in order to make good visions come true. In 892, she had a vision that Bloodhair would kill King Alfred the Great of Wessex, provoking Bloodhair to invade Wessex. She massacred the priests of Alton when all of them reported that they had no silver, raising priests over fires and disemboweling Brother Hubert. She was taken prisoner by Uhtred of Bebbanburg when he arrived at the town, and she was presented to Alfred at Aescengum, where he warned him that he would not survive the year, and that he would be the last king of the united Saxons. Uhtred frequently refused to kill her, afraid that his curse would continue unless she lifted it, upsetting his lieutenant Finan the Agile. Later, Skade attempted to seduce Uhtred, saying that she would leave Bloodhair behind. Uhtred was tempted, especially when, while at the fortress of Dunholm, his old friend Brida told him that he could harness her powers by becoming her man. She then promised to kill Brida after she placed a Nithstong in front of her cell to block her powers.

Skade left with Uhtred after he decided against joining Ragnar, Bloodhair, and Hastein's new Danish army, as she believed that Uhtred was bound to her. Uhtred later rescued Princess Aethelflaed from the Wincelcumb monastery, only to be besieged ther eby Hastein's men. Uhtred reminded Skade that she had to do as he wished, and that he would return for her; he then had her released to Hastein's besiegers instead of Aethelflaed, and she was taken as a captive to Beamfleot. She rejected Hastein's advances, but said that she would be his if he could slay her current lover, Uhtred.